With expedition stops in Newfoundland, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia’s south coast, the Fundy Isles, and more, this tour includes lesser-known and hard-to-reach gems of Canada’s glorious east coast—and every stop is a highlight!

Just off the shores of Newfoundland lie the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon—an official territory of the French Republic. The colourful town of Saint-Pierre makes a charming beginning to our trip. Winding streets lined with shops, houses, and cafes bring a taste of Europe to the east coast of North America.

You will arrive in Saint-Pierre from our charter flight, where you will be transferred to the Ocean Endeavour.

Day 2: Chéticamp, Cape Breton Island

Today we call in at Cape Breton Island—a fiercely independent region of the province of Nova Scotia. Our destination is the fishing village of Chéticamp. The busy harbour rug-hooking museum, local shops and restaurants offer a taste of Acadian heritage in a thoroughly bilingual town.

Nearby Cape Breton Highlands National Park is world-renowned for scenery and wildlife. We’ll be hoping for favourable conditions to hike the magnificent Skyline Trail.

Day 3: Historic Fortress of Louisbourg

In the struggle between English, and French colonial powers for control of what is now Canada, the French Fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island played a pivotal role. Established in 1720, the fortifications were captured by the British in 1745, returned to the French, captured again in 1758 and then destroyed.

Reconstructed in the 1960s and 1970s, the Fortress of Louisbourg is a National Historic Site, offering a fascinating glimpse into military colonial Canada.

Day 4: South Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s southwestern coast provides habitat for seabirds and marine mammals in abundance. We’ll be seeking opportune sea and weather conditions to observe the wildlife in this region.

Day 5–7: Bay of Fundy

The rugged coastline of the Bay of Fundy is world-famous for its world-record high tides; here the waters of three rivers join the Fundy tides.

Along the southeastern shore of the bay lie peninsulas, mountains, and picturesque inlets. It is also home to some of the highest tides in the world, and is famed for marine mammals and seabirds. The area borders Nova Scotia’s French shore, where Acadian influence is strong. the founding of Port-Royal in 1605 by the French and their Mi’kmaq allies, and the conquest of Acadia by England in 1713, the region was hotly contested.

The Fundy Isles—Campobello, Grand Manan, and Deer Island—are an archipelago at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. Their only land connection is via bridge to Lubec, Maine. Island residents can reach Canada without crossing the border only in summer— by two ferries.

The islands feature historic sites, including a park jointly run by Canada and the US. Birdwatching, marine mammals, and scenery—as well as the famous Fundy tides—round out the attractions.

Day 8: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

The port of Lunenburg once harboured a fleet of sailing vessels, including the famous Bluenose. Old Town Lunenburg was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. British colonial town plans ignored topography, making for several very steep streets.

St. John’s Anglican Church, the Lunenburg Academy, the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, and dozens of shops, cafes, and galleries line the hilly streets of the splendid harbour town. We’ll spend the afternoon exploring its treasures!

Day 9 & 10: Sable Island

A sandbar as long as Manhattan—but only about a kilometre wide—Sable Island is home to many varieties of birds, including the endemic Ispwich sparrow, hundreds of grey seals, and the world-famous Sable Island horses.

Unique weather conditions prevail at Sable Island. Our scheduled two days here allow us to maximize opportunities to explore the dunes, cruise the shores and view the wildlife. We’ll also learn firsthand about Sable Island’s fascinating human history.

Day 11: At Sea - The Gully Marine Protected Area

En route to Newfoundland, join our wildlife spotters on deck, watching for seabirds and marine mammals. We will be crossing The Gully, a Marine Protected Area where the sea floor suddenly drops a dizzying two and a half kilometres into a submarine valley. The Gully is one of the most prominent undersea features in eastern Canada and its unique ecology has attracted the interest of many agencies, such as Parks Canada and Environment Canada. This is due to its significant coral communities, its diversity of both shallow and deep-water fish, and its many whales and dolphins.

Our resource staff, scientists, historians, musicians, and artists will continue to engage us with workshops, presentations and entertainment. We’ll be immersed in the spirit of the East Coast all the way to St. John’s.

Day 12: St. John’s, NL

Welcome to St. John’s—Newfoundland’s historic, vibrant capital. St. John’s has been continually fished since 1498, making it North America’s oldest European settlement. Architecture, shopping, night life and cultural attractions make St. John’s a sightseer’s delight.

Make sure to be on deck as we sail through the Narrows to conclude our voyage by sea! We will say goodbye in the port of St. John’s, disembark the Ocean Endeavour, and head onward to our next journeys.

Sailing with a maximum of 198-passengers, Ocean Endeavour is the perfect vessel for expedition cruising. Outfitted with twenty Zodiacs, advanced navigation equipment, multiple lounges and a top deck observation room, she is purpose-built for passenger experiences in remote environments. The Ocean Endeavour boasts a 1B ice class, enabling her to freely explore throughout the Arctic summer.

Launched in 1982, she has had numerous upgrades, most recently in 2010 and 2014. At 137 meters (450ft) in length, Ocean Endeavour has plenty of interior and exterior space. Enjoy multiple decks offering comfortable lounge chairs, outdoor dining, a swimming pool, sauna and even a hot tub! The spacious interiors allow for multiple workshops and presentations to occur simultaneously. Community is at the heart of Adventure Canada’s expedition experience. We gather together to learn, enjoy a drink, sing a song or share a yarn – connecting with one and other. The three lounges aboard Ocean Endeavour are fantastic public spaces for seminars, events and dialogue.

The Ocean Endeavour’s private spaces are stylish and comfortable. All cabins have private washroom facilities, a phone for internal calls, radio, TV and air-conditioning. There are a variety of cabin categories available ranging from 9-30 m2 (100-320 sq ft).

Ocean Endeavour’s crew is experienced, and friendly. Her shallow draft and maneuverability allow her to access isolated fiords, bays and secluded communities. The stylish vessel is at home among the glorious settings we seek. Enjoy the class and comfort of a boutique hotel, while venturing to some of the world’s last great frontiers aboard the Ocean Endeavour!

Ship Images

Deck Plan

Pricing

2020 Fares are per person in US Dollars: Save 15% (book by October 31, 2019)

Category 1: $3,995 Deck 4

Category 2: $4,795 Deck 4

Category 3: $6,195 Deck 5

Category 4: $7,495 Deck 4

Category 5: $8,795 Deck 5

Category 6: $10,095 Deck 7 & 8

Category 7: $11,395 Deck 8

Category 8: $12,695 Decks 5 & 7

Category 9: $13,995 Decks 5 & 7

Category 10: $15,295 Deck 7

If you'd like a single occupancy cabin, there are a limited number of single cabins in categories 3 to 7 available without a single supplement. Single cabins in categories 8 to 10 are available at 1.5x the fare quoted above.

Charter flight available for this itinerary: St. John's, NL to Saint-Pierre, France (early morning departure) $495

What to Expect

Our Newfoundland cruise program allow you to experience the best of the natural world, while enjoying the comforts of our friendly floating hotel. The ship generally makes crossing between islands at night, so every morning you awake to new vistas and discoveries. Every day we offer a combination of interesting shore excursions and fun shipboard activities. You can choose which elements of the program you want to participate in.

Our excursions onshore will involve a relatively low level of exertion, but you will need a reasonable level of mobility to get up and down the gangway and climb into and out of Zodiacs (with assistance). Some of our shore landings will be 'wet', requiring waterproof boots. Once you have left the zodiac, you'll find our shore excursions accommodate both those who wish to enjoy a gentle stroll and those who prefer more active hikes. Our onboard specialists will join us on these shore excursions to provide interpretation and narration to these wonderful landscapes and experiences.

Each evening we will gather in the lounge to recount the day’s events and share memorable stories. Our onboard musician will provide some lively entertainment during happy hour and the expedition leader will outline the following day’s schedule. Our resource staff of naturalists, historians, and other guest speakers will give informative talks at various times throughout the voyage.

Meals in the ship's dining room are a great opportunity to meet new friends and recount the day's adventures. Special diets can be accommodated with advance notice. Safety is also a top priority with Eagle-Eye Tours – our team has extensive experience in the field, and all of our Voyages are run in conjunction with operators with the highest safety standards.

When the ship is underway, it is a wonderful time to join a naturalist on deck, take photos of the stunning scenery, or get caught up on some reading in the library.

We know that everyone travels for different reasons. Over the years, however, we have found one common element among the guest who choose to travel with us - a thirst of knowledge and authentic experience. Knowing this drives us to ensure the highest quality learning experience on our trips, by taking time to carefully design each trip we offer.